American teens have been dying behind the wheel in vehicles for generations. In fact, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. This is becoming an even more pervasive issue with the advent of driving and texting – something that has become a dangerous pastime.
Teens are at an age where they feel immortal – like nothing can interfere with or change their lives. That can be an incredibly dangerous belief when it comes to operating a motor vehicle.
Startling Stats
Statistics regarding teen driving are jarring. But the good news is that knowledge is power, and you can talk to the teens in your life when you have the information to do so.
Have a look at some of these facts:
- It’s not seeking thrills that causes the most number of teen crashes, but distractions like texting and driving
- A survey a few years back showed that 20 percent of drivers in Grade 11 had a least one crash in the last year – five percent of those had two or more
- Drivers between the ages of 16-19 had a fatality rate three times higher than drivers between the ages of 20-69
- Sixty percent of deaths of teens who were passengers happened in vehicles driven by other teenagers
- The fatality rate regarding vehicle crashes is the highest for 16 and 17-year olds within the first six months of getting their licenses. The number remains high until drivers reach the age of 24
Losing a young driver and/or passengers to a car crash is tragic and life altering for the rest of the family and friends left to mourn the loss of a young life or lives. However, there is something you can do. You should talk to any teens in your life who are just starting to drive. You can provide them with information you hope they will use to be the safest they can be when they’re driving.
Research and Focus Groups Provide Info
There are organizations that provide information about teens and safe driving. Using this information, you’ll be given ways to hold a teen’s attention emotionally when it comes to educating him or her about the consequences of making poor driving decisions. When you have real life stories to tell that teens can relate to, they will be more likely to retain the information.
Many teens are visual and retain information they can see, but that doesn’t mean that you should only show them gory photos of car accidents. It means engaging them in other ways perhaps with word puzzles, music, videos, art and writing. Let your teens and their friends express themselves in their own ways when it comes to driving safely and any fears or concerns they may have.
Accidents Can Still Happen
Unfortunately, even when you arm teens with the information on how they can stay safe, they may still become involved in a motor vehicle accident through no fault of their own. In such a situation, your teen could pursue compensation to help cover medical bills and any rehabilitation costs he or she incurred as a result of someone else’s negligence. In this case, you will find the guidance and advice of a California attorney experienced in personal injury law invaluable.
An attorney will make sure all evidence was properly gathered and stored when moving forward in pursuing compensation. If the unthinkable should happen and your teen loses his or her life in a motor vehicle accident that was the fault of another driver, as a family member, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death civil lawsuit. A compassionate attorney will guide you every step of the way.